Pakistan Militants Target SCO Summit with Attacks

A series of coordinated militant attacks across Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces have raised serious concerns about the country's internal security ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad from October 15-16. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi asserted that these attacks, carried out by groups including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were part of a conspiracy to sabotage the summit. The violence on August 26, which resulted in over 70 deaths, was described as 'completely planned,' with militants targeting civilians, security forces, and infrastructure. Naqvi emphasized that the government had identified clear links between the terrorist organizations involved and vowed stringent action against those who challenge the state's authority. The government has allocated significant funds to bolster security and counter-terrorism efforts in Balochistan.